Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Christophe Truffaut

Alexandre Dodge

Pascal Coudray

Marie-Helene Froger

Marie-H&eacute;l&egrave;ne Froger

Stephane Michel

Noboru Nakatani

Hiromichi Nagane

Micka&euml;l Lorgeoux

Measuring the electrical resistance of a resistive body, in particular a reservoir containing a printing product such as ink. According to the invention, the resistive body is used to define a capacitance arrangement formed from a capacitive branch which includes a capacitor electrically connected to the resistive body and this is incorporated in a resonant circuit that includes a variable capacitor. The resonant circuit is supplied with a fixed frequency, and as the capacitance of the variable capacitor is varied the peak of the signal is sought. The amplitude of the peak is representative of the resistance of the resistive body.

Process for measuring the electrical resistance of a resistive body for example for checking the conformity of a liquid product and devices for carrying out such a process

In order to determine a distribution of product present in a reservoir ( ), particularly a distribution of ink in the reservoir of an image transfer device, a device includes electrodes ( ) disposed in contact with the product in the reservoir, a circuit ( ) for successively supplying the electrodes with an excitation signal (SE) causing an electromagnetic radiation from the product, a receiving antenna ( ) for sensing the electromagnetic radiation caused by the respective supplying of the electrodes, and a circuit ( ) for processing the radiation sensed into a signal representing the distribution of product contained in the porous body inside the reservoir.

Method and device for determining the distribution of product present in a reservoir, notably ink in an image device

According to the invention, electrical connection members are provided, arranged between the chassis and the carriage carrying capacitor plates corresponding respectively to the reservoirs, in order to put into service each plate corresponding to a reservoir, at a predetermined position of the carriage, a common contact element of these connection members being connected to an oscillator.

Device for determining a quantity of consumable product contained in at least one reservoir and a document printing device equipped with such an improvement

A device determines a quantity of product present in a reservoir, particularly a quantity of ink in the reservoir (,) of an image forming device, such as a printer (,). The device includes an electrode (,) disposed in contact with the product in the reservoir, a circuit (,) for supplying the electrode with an excitation signal (SE) causing an electromagnetic signal radiated by the product, a receiving antenna (,) for sensing the electromagnetic signal, and a circuit (,) for processing the electromagnetic signal sensed into a signal representing the quantity of product present in the reservoir.

Method and device for determining the quantity of product present in a reservoir, notably that of ink present in an image forming device

Detecting a quantity of a product remaining in a reservoir subjected, during use of the product, to a driving movement. The reservoir is driven in accordance with reference signals representing target movements. The reference signals including at least one test reference signal. The position of the reservoir in response to the test reference signal is detected. The quantity of product remaining in the reservoir is determinable from the detected position. Alternatively, a change in temperature caused by moving the reservoir in response to the test reference signal is detected, and the quantity of product remaining in the reservoir is determinable from the change in temperature.

Detecting quantity of residual product in a movable reservoir

The invention concerns a device for checking the operation of a unit comprising an ink reservoir (112) connected to at least an ink transfer means (113, 204), for an image transfer device (10), characterized in that it includes a means (205, 31, 230) for transmitting energy to ink contained in the ink transfer means, and a means (115, 100) for analyzing the energy transmitted to the ink, with a view to checking the operation of said unit.

Checking of the operation of the transfer of ink in an image transfer

A tray for a sheet processing apparatus has a receptacle (11), a lifting plate (12) movable between the low and high positions, arranged at the bottom of the receptacle and cooperating with an elastic thrust return member towards the high position, a lid (13) for covering the receptacle, and the tray has an arrangement preventing the passage of sheets between the cover and receptacle, having at least one clearance (44, 44') arranged on the periphery of the receptacle, and at least one plane limitation area (46, 46') arranged on the periphery of the lid and parallel to the bottom (37) of the receptacle, when the lid (13) is closed, the plane area (46, 46') being offset with respect to the internal surface of the lid and arranged on a support structure (48, 48') integral with the lid, this structure being positioned so that, in the closed position of the lid, it enters the said clearance (44, 44'), the plane limitation area (46, 46') then opening onto the inside of the receptacle.

Tray for loading sheets, including a receptacle and a lid having

A tray for a sheet processing apparatus having a receptacle, a lifting plate movable between a low position and a high position, an elastic member for elastically moving the lifting plate to the high position from the low position, a lid mounted on the receptacle pivoting about an axis and movable between an open position and a closed position, and a pushing member for pushing the lifting plate toward the low position against an elastic force of the elastic member when the lid moves into the open position, and characterized in that the pushing member is mounted on the lid and maintains the lid in the open position against the elastic force of the elastic member.

Tray for loading sheets in a sheet-processing apparatus having an

A feeding device transfers, one by one, sheets from a pile (12) to a processing device having a storage area for the pile of sheets, a drive roller (201) in contact with a sheet disposed at one end of the pile, a separating and prestressing device (203, 210) disposed opposite the roller, the separating and prestressing device including a friction device (203) generating, on the sheet, a friction opposite to the direction in which the sheet is driven. The separating and prestressing device (203, 210) also has a movable support (205) and a lever (211), the support (205) bearing the friction device, whilst the lever has at least one lateral prestressing arm (341), and an elastic unit (214) acting on the lever (211) in order to bias the surface towards the roller (201).

Sheet feeding device having a separating and prestressing device

A sheet feeding device has a frame adapted for mounting on the image-forming apparatus, a slide sliding on the frame between a closed position in which the sheets are presented to the rollers of the apparatus and an open position for loading the sheets, a tray receiving the sheets disposed in the said slide and having an opening for distributing the sheets to the said rollers and also a loading opening, the tray being able to adopt an inclined position in which the distribution opening presents the sheets to the rollers in the closed position of the slide, and an inclined position in which the loading opening is presented to the user, in the open position of the slide, and a unit pivotally biasing the tray suitable for cooperating with the tray so as to make it pivot from one position to another in the course of the movement of the slide from the closed position to the open position, and vice versa.

Sheet feeding device intended to be mounted on an image-forming apparatus

A device for collating sheets, in which the sheets are offered at an input of the device, which comprises conveyor member which convey the sheets in a circuit arranged between the input and an output of the device, the conveyor member comprising at least a first pair of helical ramps with a predetermined winding direction and each comprising a free end. The ramps are arranged on rotating member which rotate them about their helix axis in the opposite direction to the winding direction. The device also comprises guide and placement member, the rotation of the ramps having the effect of conveying the sheet positioned, by the guide and placement member, on a predetermined portion of each of the two ramps, along a portion at least of the circuit and toward the free end of the ramps, a first of the two ramps of the pair having an opposite winding direction in relation to the second. In a first variant, the device is characterized in that each of the ramps comes into contact with the sheet approximately transversely to the movement of arrival of the sheet to guide it laterally. In a second variant, the device is characterized in that it also comprises a second pair of ramps, arranged downstream from the first pair in relation to the movement of arrival of the sheets, the first ramps and the second ramps of each of the two pairs having respectively an identical winding direction and the first ramps of each of the two pairs having a height greater than that of the second ramps of each of the two pairs.

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Rennes, France

Christophe Truffaut